National Adult Literacy Database

March 24, 2008

This week, we have a story from BC. The author, Ron Kukko, is from Nanaimo, BC. He is enrolled in literacy classes at Literacy Nanaimo.

My experiences with motorcycles!

by Ron Kukko

Motorcycles are really nice to ride. A motorcycle can weigh approximately two thousand pounds.

Considering the weight of the bike, there is actually a sensation of having nothing beneath you while riding. I don't particularly like riding with another person as a passenger because it makes me feel unsafe. When I was about ten, I was riding on the back of a dirt bike and it tipped over on a steep trail. Now when I have the opportunity to ride a motorcycle as a passenger I usually pass it up because of the memory of that dirt bike experience. The sense of not being in control is unnerving.

My brother who lives in Nevada owns a custom made motorcycle and he let me ride it a few times. The motorcycle was custom made by Orange County Choppers in New York State. My brother helped to design the bike from some drawings that he did one day. He was doodling features from different models of bikes and came up with the kind of bike that he wanted. The motorcycle is very distinct in its appearance. I lack the terminology to describe how it is distinct. What I do notice about it is that it has higher handlebars and very unusual exhaust pipes. The bike is very unique in appearance color and style.

I took my brother's motorcycle for a ride in the desert and it was like jumping into cool refreshing water when you are very hot - it reminds me of the color cobalt blue. If you've ever driven across the desert in a car and looked out across the flat land it seems to be moving very slowly... like sea gulls riding a current of air. This is what I experienced riding the motorcycle. It was the best ride I ever had.

[This story was taken with permission, from the Literacy Nanaimo Newsletter, Fall 2007.]